It’s Just Dumb!!!

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:
and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Have you ever read the alcohol slogans?

The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous... It looks good, it tastes good, and by golly it does you good...Probably the Best Beer in the World...It’s What Your Right Arm Is For...It Works Every Time...It’s The One Beer To Have When You’re Having More Than One...A Taste of the Truth...For Those Who Know the Best...Let Your Senses Take Flight...Life uncomplicated... Okay that's enough.

Over and over we are told that it's good and we are all missing out on not having a glass, bottle or swig of it. Some call it the "Good Ol' Mountain Dew". God sees it as sin, a distorter of your mind and actions. Just how many drinks do you need to become inebriated? Can you see the dumbness in this question? People will give you all kinds of answers to this question. They will rationalize it with science and weight. Using blood alcohol level calculators to make sure and drink just enough. Forgetting to factor in medications that will enhance the drunkenness and blood alcohol levels.

They will teach you that it is different for everyone. But can I tell you what is not different for everyone? The state of drunkenness and its effects in your life. One truth that will be the same for everyone is just as the scripture says it will mock you. You are a laughed at fool when you are drunk. You become a raging person that is riding an emotional roller coaster. Another truth is that you are deceived! You thought that it would mellow out the problems but it only intensified, and more than likely added to them.

For those that live in Alabama can I give you one last truth of how it will definitely effect everyone no matter age, weight, sex or race?  If you keep pushing the limits of your blood alcohol level calculator it may catch up with you. Here are our Alabama laws on DUI's:

	1st Offense	2nd Offense	3rd Offense	4th Offense
Jail	None	5 days	60 days	1 year
Fines and Penalties	$600 to $2,100	$1,100 to $5,100	$2,100 to $10,000	$4,100 to $10,100
License Suspension	90 days	1 year	3 years	5 years

Not that it matters, but my slogan would be... Drinking, Not Only Is It Sin... It's Just Dumb!

What Is That In Your Hand?

Exodus 4:1-5

And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice:for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

How many times have you felt that you weren't good enough, smart enough, equipped or talented enough to do something?  We all at times have felt this way. We feel our education, or the lack thereof, isn't enough for certain tasks. And we may be right about it when dealing with worldly standards. We may feel our talent or gifts aren't quite enough also. We could be right about that as well. You know, not everyone should try out for American Idol. (Hahaha)  

There is a problem in allowing that thought process. See, when we have surrendered our lives to Christ, He has something special for us. There is something that we can do, that no one else can. A talent that, if given to God, could be used mightily. 

God knows your talents, gifts and education. He knows your lack of these things also. But He still chooses to use you. God doesn't want your resume and recognitions. He just wants to know what you have in your hand. Think about this...  A baseball in my hand is worth nothing, but put it into the hand of Nolan Ryan and you've got something. A basketball in my hand is nothing, but place it in the hands of Michael Jordan and you'll see greatness. See, that's ability and talent in the person. But the question God asked Moses was, "What do you have in YOUR hand?"  It wasn't, "What can you do with that thing in your hand?" It was nothing but a stick, but look at what God did!  

Maybe you opened your hand and saw nothing. Or maybe you have your iPad or iPhone in your hand right now and think it's nothing. But what a great tool it could be if surrendered to God. Maybe you could text a friend that you know is struggling (hmmm, I could do that). Maybe call someone to invite them for lunch so you can share Jesus with them (hmmmm, that sounds simple). 

What ever you have in your hand today, lay it down at His feet and see what God can do with it. Business? Give it to him.  Marriage? Give it to Him. Family? Give it to Him. Church? Give it to Him. 

What is that in Your hand?

If There Ever Was A Time

Psalms 33:22
Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
according as we hope in thee.

If there ever was a time that we need the mercy of our Lord it's now! God, we cry out unto you for thy tender mercies. Your grace is amazing! Your love is overwhelming! Your word is so refreshing to my dry and barren soul. There are times that I feel the heat of the sun has been beating upon my life and I am in need of the water. At times I feel as if I am sinking in the waters of this world and need the security of dry land.

Isn't it crazy that we need help in every situation? We often pray for others and look after others but what about the times you get alone with God? Could you just take time this morning to ask Him for the mercy you need? David said, "Let thy mercy..." He told the Lord that he desired His mercy. David wasn't bowing down before men begging for their mercy that could only last for a moment. He wanted the mercy of God. Undeserved mercy was what he was asking for.

David said, "Let it be upon us, according as we hope in thee." God we are not putting our hope in anything else. We want your mercy and our hope is that you will send it. My hope reaches into or unto Christ Jesus. My hope for the answer is found in the manger. My hope for the sacrifice for sin is found at the cross. My hope for redemption and resurrection is found in the empty tomb. My hope for mercy is found in the merciful!

If there ever was a time I needed You before,
Lord I need You now.
And if there ever was a trial I couldn't handle on my own,
That's how this feels somehow.
If there ever was a child that was crying out for help,
That's what this songs about.
Cause if there ever was a time that I needed You before,
Lord I need You now!

Turn On The Light

John 3:19-21
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

I don't want you to be afraid when you go to bed tonight but have you ever thought about all those little things that come out at night? Those creepy and crawly things? We know it's true. The bugs, mice and all kinds of other things come out at night. (I kept it nice I didn't say... roaches, rats, and spiders - haha) They crawl around searching for some kind of tasty treat. It could be some crumbs that fell from the table that day or they could just be searching for some warmth under the covers with you. (OK, I'm done with the scary stories) What I'm getting at is that they do this all under the cover of the darkness.

When we hear something or feel something crawling around at night what is the first thing we do, after jumping and slinging the covers into the air? We say, "Turn on the light!!!!" When we do that what happens? Those little things are revealed and run as fast as they can to find a dark place away from the light.

Once my wife and I were woke up in the middle of the night to a sound in our bathroom. Now if it was a burglar, they had passed all the prized possessions while entering the bathroom, but maybe they had to go. Anyway, Patti nudged me and told me something was in the bathroom. So I got up and turned on the light. Remember now this was about two or three in the morning so my eyes were not adjusted just yet. There it was, over beside the bathtub, the biggest rat I had ever seen in my life! Huge! This thing was evidently eating our Wheaties cereal every night. As I approached it for the capture it started hissing at me. Then I realized this was no rat, but an opossum. This little evil thing wasn't going back to the dark without taking me with it. I would like to tell you that I called the Opossum Hunter and he safely bagged it and released it into the wild, maybe your yard, but it didn't happen that way.

Without the light I would have never seen it. Let me tell you, if I would have ventured into the bathroom that night with no light and it was just me and him, well it would have been like releasing a tornado in an open field of trees. It would have been messed up! The light showed me and continued to show me where it was. Pray this morning that the Light of the Word will show you those creepy and crawly things that you need to stay away from or get rid of in your life. Don't let them run back into the cover of darkness because as soon as the light is back off they are coming right back out. Pray that God reveals sin in your life and then confess it when He shines light upon it. Ask the Lord to turn on the light!

I Thought Better of You

Hebrews 6:9
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

There is no statement that I hate to hear more than, "I thought better of you." Remember when you were younger and your parents would give you that line? Maybe it was when you were the older child in the bunch and you all did something foolish. Then when it came time to hand out the punishment you got that "You're older, you should have known better" speech.

Those words would make us feel horrible because we knew it was the truth. We should have set the example or the standard. Instead, we became the ring leader of it all.

God is telling us today that He desires better things of us. What do you think those things are? Fruits of the Spirit would be my guess. Fruits that accompany salvation. Remember this statement, "Why don't you act your age?" I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to say that to some folks that say they are saved. Then I realize that some can't act this way or have fruit that accompany salvation because they don't have true salvation. They can’t bear fruit because they have no good seed. Why do we want people to act saved when they could truly BE saved and have things that accompany salvation.

What are the things that accompany your life? Are they things of salvation and the actions of a child of God? What are you doing? I thought better of you. Call out to Him now and ask Him for salvation and allow Him to grow you into a fruit producing Christian.

Starting Something

Hebrews 5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Most days we want nothing but good things to happen to us right? We are sensitive people these days and want everything to go good and accordingly. If something happens that is perceived tough or hard we feel as though someone is being mean and bullying us. When a negative comment or action comes from us or toward us we feel as if the devil is attacking us. If it persists then we get to the point where we think it must be God that is mad at us.

Doesn't this sound childish? If it doesn't it could be because you are still growing. Don't get mad. I'm not picking on you but I'm trying to help us all. If everyday is not smooth and good then we start our whining. Come on now...keep reading. Don't give up.

If everyday was positive and good what would we learn? Nothing! What if our car battery only had the positive side and no negative side? No power. Now flip that around, if we only had a negative side then the only place it would take us is misery. We must have a positive and negative side. If we are ever going to start something our lives must have a positive and negative side post. We must learn to discern both good and evil. We must learn how to live through the positive and negative things that WILL happen to us. We must grow in Christ through blessings and trials, through victories and suffering, through the positive times and negative times.

Thank you for staying to the end... Now go start something!

Never Satisfied

Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

You've just finished a nice dinner and are fully satisfied. Is there any better feeling than being hungry and having that hunger satisfied? Don't misunderstand me now. I'm not talking about stuffing yourself so much until you feel miserable. No I'm talking about being hungry and eating until that hunger is satisfied. That is a great feeling that not everyone has the privilege of knowing. Some never know it because of over eating. Some because they don't have anything to eat.

Let me share a story with you from when I was younger. I was the child that always wanted more. Not at the dinner table, well maybe sometimes, but in all things. If there was one of something I wanted another. Well my dad tried to whip it out of me and mom would try also but this attitude never left. My dad would always say, "Never satisfied!" To which I always rolled my eyes and thought he didn't know what he was talking about.

He was right! I was always missing something more. There were always great things happening to me but I wanted something more because it never satisfied me. I was the one who over ate on everything the world offered. I was the one who didn't eat right because I didn't have Christ. But then I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ and suddenly there was a satisfaction in my soul. Sure, I still want things at times but I have found out that if it is not something needed then I will be content.

Some will tell you that you need a Snicker bar, but I know what you need... a Savior. Thank you Jesus for the satisfaction of my heart.

Part of the Family

Proverbs 18:9
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

What is being slothful in work? Not being on time? Not being efficient? Yes that's what the Word of God is telling us this morning. God doesn't want us to be lazy or slothful in our working. He desires that whatever we are doing, that we would do it as if we were doing the job for Him. If you were to take a look at just these last thirty days of your life, what would you find? Would you be able to say that you have worked at all things as if you were doing it for the Lord Himself?

What about at work? Many of us today work for a paycheck and that is all. Slothfulness or laziness is constant in our routine because we only get paid so much, so we only do so much. The employer asks you to go a little farther and you say, "That's not my job". But then when the raises are handed out you wonder why you didn't get one. Sound familiar?

What about your family/marriage? How hard did you work on that the last thirty days? I understand that marriage and family shouldn't always be viewed as a job, but believe this or not...sometimes it is discipline that keeps things structured. Working at keeping your selfish desires put aside so that the desires of your spouse or children are fulfilled can be labor at times. So many dad's today think that putting in all the overtime and giving materialistic things to the family is all they need. Well that is not working out to well for the families. Many mom's think purchasing the finest clothing, keeping up with the "in" crowd is all the family needs. Again, that's not working to well. Don't be lazy in your marriage. You could be asleep one day and wake up to realize that everything or everyone is gone.

Look at the last part of our scripture. The one who is slothful in his work is a brother to him that is a waster. How true! Laziness is always accompanied by wastefulness. The scripture says that they are brothers. There have been times that people come up to me and say, "Are you so-in-so's brother?" I say, "Yes, I am. How did you know?" Most every time they answer, "Because you look alike" or "I just knew you were related".

How did your evaluation go? Who are you working for? Let Christ be the one you labor for in all things and see if He doesn't bless you in all things. Don't be related to these two brothers.

Are You Serious?

Psalms 37:5
Commit thy way unto the Lord;
trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the Lord,
and thy thoughts shall be established.

What is commitment? It is the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, someone, etc... This is a word that is rarely used today. The level of true commitment is drained under the disguise of pleasure. We are spoon fed a philosophy of "do what makes you happy" or "you need to make yourself happy first". I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy everything that I have to do, or should I say need to do. Let me show you some examples.

I hate, yes hate, having to eat right. I would love to drown a biscuit in some gravy. Wrap my hands around a double bacon cheeseburger. I hate having to eat salads and stay away from taters. I hate paying to have an oil change in our vehicles. Believe this or not, but some days I don't like to work. There it is, I said it! But do you know what I like? I love stepping on the scales and seeing my weight come down. I love getting in my vehicle and knowing that it will probably get me to my destination. I absolutely love getting a paycheck and purchasing things I need... and a few things I desire.

A coach once told me that sometimes you have to do the things you don't want to in order to be dedicated or committed. Are you spending your life as a Christian waiting on the Lord to take you home but yet your commitment to Him is no where to be found? Many want Heaven without repentance or a walk dedicated to Jesus. Are you serious? What if the Lord took the same interest in commitment toward you that you have toward Him? Where would that leave you?

Something to SERIOUSLY think about...

The Odds Are In Your Favor

Luke 23:34

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

While Jesus was pleading for their forgiveness, they were gambling. We see in this scripture that the article they were gambling for was his garment. But if will look deeper, we will see that it was much more than that. They were gambling with their lives. 

The Son of God was right above them. He was praying that his Father would forgive because they were ignorant of what they were doing. He was giving his life for theirs. He would have clothed them with righteousness instead of those old rags they cast lots for. If only they would have looked up. If only they would have thrown themselves upon Jesus. He would have given them the greatest riches that this world has ever known. 

Think with me of that scene... Pharisees crying out for the death of Jesus, some followers weeping about Jesus, Roman soldiers giving out commands and now find themselves sitting down at his feet gambling for his clothes. If only they knew. 

Are you gambling at his feet today?  So many come so close to God and then walk away with some type of garment, but never receive that righteous robe and glorious crown. Come to Jesus now!  Realize right now how close you are to the Savior. Let me finish by saying... "These odds are in your favor"

Walking On Crutches

John 15:4

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Quick information, fast answers and Google are dangerous today. Not to mention Wikipedia and Snopes.com. Many of us today have become scholars because of our fast access to information through our smart phones. When someone asks a question an almost instant typing fest begins. People searching on Google or Internet search engines as fast as they can. Ready to give that answer, even if it's wrong. 

This attitude is bleeding into the Christian life also. Someone asks a question concerning the Bible and people reach for the phone. Or better yet, they reach for a study Bible instead of studying the Bible. They search commentaries instead of asking the Holy Spirit. Don't get me wrong, these resources are great and needed, but they should not be the crutches which we lean upon. They should be helps with our studies and not our source of studies. 

In this same manner, Christians have made church, music, styles, preachers, youth groups, events, etc...our source. When our source, and only source is Jesus!  These others are great resources for the life of a Christian. Music heals the soul, preaching feeds the soul, events excite the soul, but only Christ can satisfy the soul. He is our source!  

Let me show you something... Take Jesus (our source) from church, music, styles, preachers, youth groups, events, etc...(our resources) and what will you have?  Take scripture from your study Bible and what will you have? A book of mans thoughts concerning the Word of God. Remember, I'm not saying these things are wrong at all, they are just not the source. Take study notes from the study Bibles and what will you have? The Word of God. Don't get so engulfed by the resources. 

Our source is Jesus Christ. There is no other!

Just Like He Said

2 Thessalonians 2:5
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

A few years ago, while traveling the same road  just about everyday, I told my wife about some huge rocks that we're going to fall from a cliff on this road. Every time we would travel this road I always glanced over and looked at those rocks. Every time I looked I would say to those in the car with me, "Those rocks are gonna come down someday soon."  It had gotten so routine for me that my wife and boys would say, "Yeah, yeah someday those rocks are going to fall." I would always respond with, "You better believe it! Mark my words."

As we were traveling home from church one Sunday morning, we suddenly came to a barricade. As soon as I saw this I started yelling, "I told you! I told you! That huge rock has finally come down." Sure enough, that's exactly what happened. So needless to say every time I tell them something now they take me a little more serious, maybe.

God has given us His word. He has warned us in places. He has assured us in places. There have been promises given unto us as well as scriptures of protection. God has spoken purpose as well as prophecy to us in His word. He told the disciples that no stone would be left upon another there in Jerusalem and you know what?  I've seen those stones lying on the ground myself. Just like He said!

Go and read John Chapter 14 before you start your day today. He has told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us and to not let our hearts be troubled. Mark His words... He has gone and it will happen. Just like He said!

Walk Heavy

2 Peter 1:15

Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

What kind of mark will you leave behind? Did you know that everyday we are leaving footprints? Now I'm not talking about the carbon footprints that Al Gore speaks of. I'm talking about a path. A path that people will either follow or avoid. 

If you have children you know what I'm speaking about. Everyday and every moment those little ones are following our steps. They want to be like dad or just like mom. I remember when my boys used to put my shoes on and those shoes would swallow their little feet up. They would also put my suit coat on and wear it through the church as it would hang way past the knees. 

Not just our children are watching us. People all around us are observing us and watching the steps we make. So where are we leading them? Are we, as Christians, leading them to a life filled with grace or just one that takes advantage of grace and abuses it?

Peter said, before this scripture, that he wanted to stir up the gift that is within you. He wants so strongly to put us into remembrance of the things of God before he dies. 

Let me express my heart this morning. Before I receive eternity i want my wife to continue in the steps we have made together. I want my sons to know Christ even more. I want them to know the scriptures so well that it flows from them. I want them to sing so loudly the praises of Jesus. I want them to be ready for the trials that will come from serving Christ and to endure them with joy. 

God has blessed me by showing me something. Those boys who used to put my big shoes on that didn't fit, well let's just say they are only a few sizes away now. Heaven that once seemed so far away, well it's just a few steps from here. So let's walk heavy and leave some good steps for others to follow. 

Faith and the Magic 8 Ball?

Remember the "Magic 8 Ball"?  With its phrases like, "It is Certain", "You May Rely on It", "Outlook Good", "Ask Again Later", "Concentrate and Ask Again", and my all time favorite "Very Doubtful". Keep that in mind through our devotion this morning. 

Judges 6:36-40

And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

This is an amazing story about a man who was facing something difficult in his life and asked God for a sign. God chose to answer him in the very way that he asked. God uses signs. Many times, especially in the Old Testament, God moved in this manner. God even sent the star as a sign over His Son. Not that the sign was the miracle, it only pointed to the miracle and confirmed it. 

We today act in the same way as Gideon. We feel God moving in our lives and then ask Him to send us a sign. Some have even asked God to move in their most darkest times by closing their eyes and pointing to a page of the Bible to read a powerful scripture. Please don't misunderstand me this morning. I do not doubt that God can move in that way, He has done great things for me in this manner. But there is a problem with this ALWAYS being the way we think. 

Look at this scripture and keep in mind that scripture will never argue against scripture. The people wanted a sign about the end times and listen to what Jesus said about always seeking signs. 

Luke 11:29

And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation:they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

You see if we are always the kind of people that close our eyes and point, look into the sky for a certain shaped cloud or some other kind of signs, then where is our faith?  If we constantly seek signs in order to believe God then we will become as the Jewish nation did. They became guilty of placing their faith in the signs themselves instead of the God who sent the signs. Don't be guilty of placing your faith in signs but rather keep your faith in God who sent the sign for your direction.

The GREATEST sign you could ever receive has already been given. It is the awesome Word of God!  Why spend so much time seeking after more signs when God has already given us the signs in His Word?  

Thank you Lord for your Word. Thank you for allowing me to live in such a time that there is no confusion for my direction because it is all written in your Word. 

John 20:30-31

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Watch For Potholes!

Galatians 5:7
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

I hear Christians almost every week say the phrase, "When I first got saved I was so on fire for the Lord." To which I always try to respond, "What happened?"

The sad truth is that we all could be closer to the Lord right now than we were yesterday. The reason for this is we tend to watch the flames or desire of our hearts burn instead of putting more wood on the fire. Our human nature is to glory in our victories. We live so much on the old glory days than we do looking at the days that could be before us.

A preacher friend of mine, Junior Hill, once told us at a Pastor's Conference that he was praying that his last days would be his best. This is someone who is asking God for strength, wisdom and most of all the Spirit to be with him in the last chapters of his life. Let me say that God has truly been answering his prayer.

But sometimes along the way we become hindered. Look at what Paul says about the church at Galatia. He says, "Ye did run well;... You were doing so good and then something has happened to you guys." What in the world happened to these followers? Who hindered them? An interesting things is the Greek word for hinder. It is "anakopto", which means to beat back, hinder by breaking up a road. It's like the waves that beat against the ship trying to maintain its course. It's like driving along and the potholes are so bad, or the road is so damaged, you can't get to your destination.

God's Word tells us that there are things and people that will hinder us. We must be careful of the potholes that try and wreck our lives. I sure don't want a preacher, or the Lord Himself, telling me that I did run well...but you became hindered. Do you always boast of what you used to be in the Lord? What hindered you?

Are You Sure This Is The Right Road?

Mark 14:36
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Have you ever traveled down a road that you didn't want to be on? Several years ago our family went on a trip to the mountains. My parents, grandparents and my family were headed on a little get away. We wanted a cabin that was secluded but also close to the city. I know, we wanted our cake and eat it too. I searched on the Internet for a place to stay and found a beautiful three bedroom log cabin. The pictures said that it was tucked away on the top of Mt. LeConte of Tennessee.

So off we took... Traveling highways and interstates and finally arriving close to our destination. When we got to the city we turned at a certain traffic light and hoped it wouldn't be much farther. Then we turned off of another road, and another one, and another one...until we finally found ourselves on a single-lane road. Darkness isn't the best word to describe it. While we were in the city my granddad said, "I should have brought my gun." When we turned off on that dark single-lane road he said, "I should have brought my shotgun!"

What I am trying to get at is, do you think that we would have ever gotten there if we hadn't taken the dark single-lane road? Would we have ever seen the beauty of that cabin tucked away on that beautiful mountain? No. Think this morning of that dark, single-lane and lonely road that Jesus faced ahead of Him that night in the Garden of Gethsemane. Listen to Him as He cries, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me:" But there was no other way to get to Calvary except through the pain and suffering of the cross. I'm thankful that Jesus said, "Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."

Just as we would have never enjoyed the scenery and beauty of that cabin in the mountains without traveling that dark and lonely road, we would never enjoy victory over death and salvation if Christ had never walked up that hill called Calvary! We will never know the victory in being in God’s Will if we quit or abandon the walk when the road gets difficult. Thank you Lord for being with us, especially when the road seems dark and lonely!

Where Are We Watching the Game?

Mark 14:12-15
And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

Because of growing up in the south many of my Saturdays were spent in three ways. We were either fishing, hunting or watching college football during this season. I spent much time in front of a television watching and cheering on my team (which has just won their 17th National Championship). Missing a game was not accepted and then it became my habit of flipping through the channels for every game. Saturday after Saturday we gathered with friends and watched the games.

Now the fun of it all was the planning. The opening game of the season was planned out sometimes a month ahead. "Where you watching the game?" was the question of the month. The very next questions were, "Whose coming? What are we eating? What do I need to bring?" Our preparation for one event was like a military strategy.

Just as every game... People planned for this one opening event. They saved, or borrowed money for tickets and airfare. They counted the cost and said it is well worth it. Bags were packed, reservations were made and time was spent to either be at this event or just simply at home with friends watching it together.

Do you know how much effort that takes? Did you know that Christ Jesus has done that very same thing for you? He has all things prepared. Just as His disciples didn't know where they would celebrate the Passover (Big Game Celebration) together, Jesus knew. He had all things ready! What a huge disappointment it would be for Him to have all things ready and you never show. Just as these disciples came to find this place by faith, come to Jesus today by faith and trust upon Him.

One more question... Where will you spend eternity? It's similar to our title question but its results could be much more impactful.

I Love You

1 John 3:18

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

I tell my wife and children that I love them many times during a day. Before we leave each other in the mornings we say we love one another. When we go different ways we tell each other that we love one another. Before we go to bed each night we tell one another that we love each other. It's something that we started because we want each other to know how we feel. But there are times that we say it because we are disciplined to do so. There are even times when we say it and it feels like it isn't enough, kinda like the words aren't sufficient. 

That's what this scripture is teaching us. To say it isn't enough. Love is an action word. Love must be shown in order for people to actually feel it. To tell someone that you love them and not show them would have no more meaning than telling them your middle name and never wanting them to call you by it. 

Love requires action. It demands it. Notice what the scripture tells us... Don't love in word. In other words, don't brag on how much you do or will do. Love isn't boastful about itself. Some think by always bringing up what they have done or bought, that their love is something great. Loving people doesn't always have an itinerary or price catalog. Sometimes loving people is just being there. Also look at what the scripture says... Don't love in tongue. How would you feel about love if someone told you they loved you but cheated on you?  How would you feel about love if someone told you they loved you but never talked to you again?  

The scripture is very clear on these two issues of love. Look at it and add it together. 

  - Don't love in "WORD", but love in "DEED"

  - Don't love in "LIES OF THE TONGUE", but in "TRUTH"